Handle assembly for a toilet with a rotating sensor assembly

ABSTRACT

A flush actuation assembly for flushing a urinal or a toilet, the flush actuation assembly comprising a housing a sensor assembly rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the sensor assembly detects the presence/absence of a user in a target area and transmits a flush signal based on said detecting a flushing assembly, operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, for receiving the flush signal and causing the flushing of the urinal or toilet; wherein the sensor assembly is rotatable relative to the housing for detecting the presence/absence of a user in differing target areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to automatic flushing systems for toilets and/or urinals, and more particular, to a flush actuation assembly for flushing a urinal or a toilet that comprises a rotatable sensor assembly for detecting the presence/absence of a user in differing target areas.

Toilets and urinals with autoflushing capabilities are known and are the subject of at least two known U.S. patents, namely U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,127 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,384. A further known system provides the IR sensor on the wall of the restroom and detects the presence of the user from this remote (i.e. the wall) location.

The inventors of the present invention note that these prior art systems lack certain desirable features and capabilities.

For example, it is believed that these prior art systems cannot be easily retrofitted into existing toilets or urinals. That is, it is a perceived disadvantage of the prior art that existing toilets or urinals cannot be easily modified to incorporate such autoflushing capabilities. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/685,826, the subject matter of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, is Applicant's answer to overcome certain perceived deficiencies in the art. However, further advances are desirable, namely to be able to detect users in differing target areas and/or further facilitate (e.g. reduce the limitations of) the mounting and positioning of the sensor and/or handle assembly. Moreover, while the preferred embodiment of the present invention is applicable for use with tank toilets, it will be seen that the present invention is not so limited.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

It is an object and advantage of the present invention to provide an improved autoflush system for use in a toilet of the type having a toilet tank and toilet bowl.

It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide an autoflush system that can be more easily retrofitted for an existing toilet of the type having a toilet tank and toilet bowl.

Another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an autoflush system that can detect users in differing target areas.

Yet another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a flushing actuation assembly that further facilitates (e.g. reduces the limitations of) the positioning and mounting of the sensor and/or handle assembly.

Still another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an autoflush system that does not require any change in habit or accustomed use by a user thereof.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the disclosure hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

To overcome the perceived deficiencies in the prior art and to achieve the objects and advantages set forth above and below, the present invention is, generally speaking, directed to a flush actuation assembly for flushing a urinal or a toilet, the flush actuation assembly comprising a housing; a sensor assembly rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the sensor assembly detects the presence/absence of a user in a target area and transmits a flush signal based on said detecting; a flushing assembly, operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, for receiving the flush signal and causing the flushing of the urinal or toilet; wherein the sensor assembly is rotatable relative to the housing for detecting the presence/absence of a user in differing target areas.

The present invention is widely applicable and can be used for the aforementioned constructed toilets in a wide range of areas of interest, such as, by example and not limitation, homes, hospitals, offices both industrial, commercial and/or professional, as well as all other industrial, commercial and domestic areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above set forth and other features of the invention are made more apparent in the ensuing Description of the Preferred Embodiments when read in conjunction with the attached Drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a toilet with a toilet tank shown partially cut away, having an autoflush system constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is top down view looking into the toilet tank of FIG. 1 also showing features and construction of the present invention (although the flush valve flapper lifting assembly is shown to be transparent for ease of understanding);

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a handle assembly and sensor assembly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a mounting arrangement of the handle and sensor assemblies of FIG. 3, with it being recognized that FIG. 4 illustrates the handle assembly of FIG. 3 rotated 180°; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a ring illustrated in FIG. 3.

Identical reference numerals in the figures are intended to indicate like parts, although not every feature in every figure may be called out with a reference numeral.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is first generally made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate a flush actuation assembly, generally indicated at 10, for automatically flushing a toilet of the type that comprises a toilet bowl, generally indicated at 12, and a toilet tank operatively coupled to toilet bowl 12 and generally indicated at 14. The toilet, generally indicated at 5, is of the type that has a flush valve 16 which provides a conduit for water W to flow from toilet tank 14 to toilet bowl 12 when the toilet is flushed. As is quite old in the art, flush valve 16 includes a valve seat 18 and a pivotable flush valve flapper 19 which opens and closes valve 16.

In its broadest embodiment, flush actuation assembly 10 (“assembly 10”) comprises a handle assembly generally indicated at 100 and a flushing assembly generally indicated at 30, which in the preferred embodiment is a flush valve flapper lifting assembly, which is positioned in toilet tank 14. The main function of assembly 30 is to pivot flush valve flapper 19 from its closed position to its open position to effectuate a flush. Flushing assembly 30 initiates the operation to pivot flush valve flapper 19 in response to a “flush”signal from handle assembly 100 (discussed below) and/or a sensor assembly generally indicated at 120 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which is rotatably coupled to handle assembly 100 and provides the functions of detecting the presence/absence of a user in a target area and transmitting the “flush” signal based on said detecting as further disclosed below. As will also be further disclosed below, flushing assembly 30 is operatively coupled to handle assembly 100 and/or sensor assembly 120 for receiving the “flush” signal and causing the flushing of the toilet. In its broadest sense, handle assembly 100 can be considered a housing for purposes of which will be disclosed below.

A feature of the present invention is that handle assembly 100 may itself transmit the “flush” signal to flushing assembly (i.e. flush valve flapper lifting assembly) 30 in response to manual actuation of handle 110. Therefore, it is a feature of the present invention that handle assembly 100 detects manual actuation of handle 110.

To detect manual actuation of handle 110, handle assembly 100 preferably comprises a switch or other actuation detector, details of which are more particularly set forth in parent application Ser. No. 10/685,826. For example, the switch or detector may operate by the detection or changing of a magnetic field, it may be a wetted switch operated by a switch position change, it may comprise a coil plunger core arrangement operating signal, may be by use of a magnet in conjunction with a Hall-effect transistor, may utilize some form of a circuit capacitance change signal by the closeness of a user's hand, or may be of some other mechanical, electromechanical or electronic type, all of which is within the scope of one skilled in the art.

Handle assembly 100 is constructed by coupling handle 110 to faceplate 150 by use of a screw/plug arrangement 152 or other coupling/locking means. Handle 110 may be rotatably mounted on a faceplate stem 154 of faceplate 150. A spring 156 is provided to spring bias handle 110 back to its rest position after rotation by a user after use of the toilet in a contemplated manner. A slot or tab, well-known in the art, may be provided in faceplate 150 to bias the spring back to its initial position after rotation. Once handle assembly 100 has detected manual actuation of handle 110, it transmits the “flush” signal to flushing assembly 30. Accordingly, handle assembly 100 may comprise a controller 123 on a PC board (e.g. board 158) that is responsive to the switching of the switch or detector, which itself is indicative of a manual actuation by the user. Details of how the “flush” signal is transmitted to flushing assembly 30 can be obtained by reference to application Ser. No. 10/685,826. All of the foregoing permits a user to flush the toilet in accordance with conventional techniques.

Turning to the specifics of the present invention, handle assembly 100 (and sensor assembly 120) also comprises at least one sensor, generally indicated at 20, for detecting the presence of a user in a target area. Practically speaking, the user will be a person, and the target area will be that area in front of (and/or on) toilet bowl 12. That is, sensor 20 operates to sense when a user approaches toilet 5, presumably to use it, and when the person has left the target area, presumably having finished using toilet 5. For purposes of a courtesy flush as more fully discussed below, the sensor can also determine for how long a user is sensed in the target area. Sensor 20 may be IR, PIR, RF, light, or sonar, by way of example and not limitation. In the preferred embodiment, sensor 20 is mounted a board 160.

The present invention discloses one sensor, generally indicated at 20, but it should be understood that a plurality of sensors, to provide the aforementioned functionality, is contemplated hereby. For this reason, the description in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,127regarding the detection of a user in the target area is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the preferred embodiment sensor 20 is an IR sensor, and thus comprises a transmitter for emitting at least one radiation beam to the target area and a detector that is responsive to a reflected radiation beam emitted from the radiation beam transmitter and reflected off of a user in the target area. Particulars of such a sensor are widely available and well-known. In another embodiment, a light sensor may be used, wherein a photocell measures a change in ambient light to detect the presence or absence of the user in the target area.

Controller 123 is responsive to a “finished” signal from sensor 20 that is indicative of the intensity of the reflected beam. More specifically, it is contemplated that sensor 20 will operate to first detect a user's presence. Presumably, assembly 10 would not want to initiate a flushing cycle until the user has left the target area, thus presumably being finished using the toilet.

Sensor 20 will continually monitor or otherwise detect the presence of the user until that user leaves the target area. Once the user has left the target area, sensor 20 sends the “finished” signal to the controller. Other features may be incorporated into sensor 20, such as a time delay to wait a predetermined period of time (i.e. one to several seconds) after the presence of the user has ceased to be detected. In this way, inadvertent flushing can be avoided.

Once the “finished” signal has been transmitted to the controller, either after a manual actuation of handle 110, or from sensor 20, the “flush” signal is transmitted to the flushing (e.g. flush valve flapper lifting) assembly 30.

Several arrangements for transmitting the “flush” signal to flushing assembly 30 are contemplated, all of which are illustrated and set forth in application Ser. No. 10/685,826 and therefore need not be repeated in detail herein, although for the convenience of the reader it is noted that the “flush” signal may be transmitted to flushing assembly 30 via an electrical wire 162 (e.g. a connector 163 may plug into a socket 164 on a PC board in flushing assembly 30). Electrically coupling the controller to receive signals from handle assembly 100 or sensor assembly 120 and to transmit the proper signal(s) to flushing assembly 30 is well within the purview of one skilled in the art.

Wireless transmission of the “flush” signal from handle assembly 100 and/or sensor assembly 120 to flushing assembly 30 is also contemplated. In a specific embodiment, the “flush” signal is transmitted by a transmitter 128, operatively coupled to controller 123 in handle assembly 100 to flush valve flapper lifting assembly 30. In this arrangement, flushing assembly 30 comprises a receiver 32 to receive the “flush” signal. In the wireless configuration, the “flush” signal may be transmitted from handle assembly 100 or sensor assembly 120 to flushing assembly 30 by IR, PIR, RF, light or sonar, by way of example and not limitation. Accordingly, transmitter 128 and receiver 32 are complementarily designed. A controller (not shown) in flushing assembly 30 controls the actuation of flushing assembly 30 upon receipt and processing of signals from receiver 32. Clearly, both forms of wired and wireless communication are not necessary, but are provided together for ease of discussion.

Sensor assembly 120 is rotatably coupled to the housing, which in the preferred embodiment is handle assembly 100, and detects the presence/absence of a user in a target area and transmits the “flush” signal based on said detecting. In accordance with the present invention, sensor assembly 120 is rotatable relative to housing assembly 100 for detecting the presence/absence of a user in differing target areas. In this way a flushing actuation assembly is provided that further facilitates (e.g. reduces the limitations of) the location for mounting of the sensor and/or handle assembly. FIG. 4 illustrates handle assembly 100 secured to the toilet tank through an aperture 17 normally used by a conventional handle.

Sensor assembly 120 may be provided in the aforementioned manually actuatable handle as well as in a handle that that does not rotate (e.g. a non-manually actuatable handle). In either embodiment, rotation of the sensor is relative to the handle.

In the preferred embodiment, sensor assembly 120 comprises a turret 170 rotatably mounted in the housing (e.g. handle 110). Preferably, turret 170 is positioned in handle 110 such that a tab 172 engages an aperture or recess 174 in the (bottom) surface of handle 110. Aperture/recess 174 positions turret 170 in handle 110 and allows for the rotation thereof in the noted “x” and “y” directions (e.g. see FIGS. 1, 3). A similar tab and recess combination may be provided on the opposite side of turret 170 to maintain its orientation/position. The LED/transmitter pair indicated at 20, positioned in turret 170, are preferably mounted on PC board 160 (which itself may be mounted to/on the back of turret 170) and electrically coupled to controller 123. Covers 176 may be provided to protect the LED/transmitter pair.

Turret 170 is preferably rotatable and positionable in a plurality of positions. To achieve this multiple positioning, turret 170 preferably comprises a plurality of ribs 178 on at least one (e.g. bottom) surface thereof. A ring 180, which remains stationary in handle 110, is provided and includes at least one (and preferably more) depending fingers 182 (see FIG. 5 which shows the underside of ring 180) that extend into the spaces created by ribs 178 to maintain the position of turret 170 in each of a plurality of rotated positions. That is, ring 180 provides somewhat of a ratcheting action, similar to a protruding member to stop a spinning wheel. In this way, turret 170 can be rotated and maintained in such positions by the engagement of the one or more fingers 182 against the ribs 178. Fingers 182 may also be formed on an inner surface of handle 110. A backing plate 184 is provided to secure and protect the sensor assembly 120 and the components positioned inside handle 110.

Again, reference to application Ser. No. 10/685,826 may be made for a more detailed description of other non-material aspects of the present invention, such as mounting arrangements of handle assembly 100 onto the toilet, the use of differing mounting configurations for and preferred constructions of flushing assembly 30.

It will thus be seen that the present invention is both patentably different from and a significant improvement over the cited prior art. Specifically, the present invention more easily lends itself into being retrofittable in an existing toilet of the type having a toilet tank. In particular, the present invention provides a rotating sensor assembly that facilitates the ability to detect users in differing target areas and/or further facilitates (e.g. reduces the limitations of) the positioning and mounting of the sensor and/or handle assembly. That is, because the sensor assembly can be rotated, more flexibility (i.e. less restriction) in where the handle assembly gets mounted (e.g. on the toilet tank) is achieved.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the present invention contemplates use of the claimed flushing actuation assembly in urinals that lend itself to the configuration of a housing with a rotatable sensor assembly as disclosed herein as well as to toilets that are not necessarily tank toilets, such as those that utilize solenoid type flushing assemblies. 

1. A flush actuation assembly for flushing a urinal or a toilet, the flush actuation assembly comprising: a housing; a sensor assembly rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the sensor assembly detects the presence/absence of a user in a target area and transmits a flush signal based on said detecting; a flushing assembly, operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, for receiving the flush signal and causing the flushing of the urinal or toilet; wherein the sensor assembly is rotatable relative to the housing for detecting the presence/absence of a user in differing target areas.
 2. A flush actuation assembly for flushing a toilet, wherein the flush actuation assembly comprises the housing, sensor assembly and flushing assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the toilet is of the type that comprises a toilet bowl and a toilet tank operatively coupled to the toilet bowl, wherein the toilet tank has a flush valve which provides a conduit for water to flow from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl when the toilet is flushed, wherein the flush valve includes a valve seat and a pivotable flush valve flapper which opens and closes the valve, and wherein the flushing assembly comprises a flush valve flapper lifting assembly, operatively coupled to the sensor assembly and positioned in the toilet tank, for pivoting the flush valve flapper from its closed position to its open position in response to the flush signal; and wherein: the tank toilet comprises an aperture through a sidewall through which a conventional handle, comprising a lift arm to lift a conventional flush valve flapper, is mountable, and wherein the housing is secured to the toilet tank through the aperture.
 3. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a handle assembly that itself comprises a stem that is passable through the aperture in the sidewall of the toilet tank, and wherein the handle assembly comprises a stem securer for securing the handle assembly to the sidewall of the toilet tank.
 4. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handle assembly comprises a manually actuatable handle operatively coupled to the flushing assembly, and wherein the handle assembly provides the flush signal to the flushing assembly; wherein the handle assembly transmits the flush signal to the flushing assembly in response to manual actuation of the handle.
 5. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sensor assembly comprises at least one sensor positioned in the manually actuatable handle and the rotation of the sensor is relative to the manually actuatable handle.
 6. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle and the sensor assembly comprises at least one sensor positioned in the handle and the rotation of the sensor is relative to the handle.
 7. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor assembly is electrically coupled to the flushing assembly.
 8. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor assembly is electrically coupled to the flushing assembly.
 9. A flush actuation assembly for flushing a toilet, wherein the flush actuation assembly comprises the housing, sensor assembly and flushing assembly as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the toilet is of the type that comprises a toilet bowl and a toilet tank operatively coupled to the toilet bowl, wherein the toilet tank has a flush valve which provides a conduit for water to flow from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl when the toilet is flushed, wherein the flush valve includes a valve seat and a pivotable flush valve flapper which opens and closes the valve, and wherein the flushing assembly comprises a flush valve flapper lifting assembly, operatively coupled to the sensor assembly and positioned in the toilet tank, for pivoting the flush valve flapper from its closed position to its open position in response to the flush signal; and wherein: the housing comprises a handle assembly that itself comprises a stem that is passable through and securable to the sidewall of the toilet tank.
 10. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a transmitter for transmitting the flush signal to the flushing assembly and the flushing assembly comprises a receiver for receiving the flush signal transmitted by the sensor assembly.
 11. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the handle assembly comprises a manually actuatable handle operatively coupled to the flushing assembly, and wherein the handle assembly provides the flush signal to the flushing assembly; wherein the handle assembly transmits the flush signal to the flushing assembly in response to manual actuation of the handle.
 12. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the handle assembly comprises a handle; and the sensor assembly comprises at least one sensor positioned in the handle and the rotation of the sensor is relative to the handle.
 13. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the handle assembly comprises a manually actuatable handle; and the sensor assembly comprises at least one sensor positioned in the manually actuatable handle and the rotation of the sensor is relative to the manually actuatable handle.
 14. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor assembly comprises: a transmitter for emitting at least one radiation beam to the target area; and a detector being responsive to a reflected radiation beam emitted from the transmitter and reflected off of a user in the target area.
 15. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor assembly comprises: a transmitter for emitting at least one radiation beam to the target area; and a detector being responsive to a reflected radiation beam emitted from the transmitter and reflected off of a user in the target area.
 16. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a turret rotatably mounted in the housing, and wherein the transmitter and the detector are mounted in the turret.
 17. The flush actuation assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a turret rotatably mounted in the housing, and wherein the transmitter and the detector are mounted in the turret.
 18. The flushing actuation assembly as claimed in claim 16, including a ring positioned in the housing assembly, and wherein the turret comprises a plurality of ribs; wherein the ring includes at least one depending finger that engages at least one or more of the plurality of ribs to maintain the position of the turret in each of a plurality of rotated positions.
 19. The flushing actuation assembly as claimed in claim 17, including a ring positioned in the housing assembly, and wherein the turret comprises a plurality of ribs; wherein the ring includes at least one depending finger that engages at least one or more of the plurality of ribs to maintain the position of the turret in each of a plurality of rotated positions.
 20. The flushing actuation assembly as claimed in claim 16, including at least one depending finger inside the handle, and wherein the turret comprises a plurality of ribs; wherein the at least one depending finger engages at least one or more of the plurality of ribs to maintain the position of the turret in each of a plurality of rotated positions.
 21. The flushing actuation assembly as claimed in claim 17, including at least one depending finger inside the handle, and wherein the turret comprises a plurality of ribs; wherein the at least one depending finger engages at least one or more of the plurality of ribs to maintain the position of the turret in each of a plurality of rotated positions.
 22. A handle assembly for flushing a urinal or a toilet, the handle assembly being operatively couplable to a flushing assembly that receives a flush signal and causes the flushing of the urinal or toilet, wherein the handle assembly comprises: a housing; a sensor assembly rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the sensor assembly detects the presence/absence of a user in a target area and transmits a flush signal to the flushing assembly based on said detecting; wherein the sensor assembly is rotatable relative to the housing for detecting the presence/absence of a user in differing target areas.
 23. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 22, comprising a manually actuatable handle operatively coupled to the flushing assembly, and wherein the handle assembly provides the flush signal to the flushing assembly; wherein the handle assembly transmits the flush signal to the flushing assembly in response to manual actuation of the handle.
 24. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein the sensor assembly comprises at least one sensor positioned in the manually actuatable handle and the rotation of the sensor is relative to the manually actuatable handle.
 25. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle and the sensor assembly comprises at least one sensor positioned in the handle and the rotation of the sensor is relative to the handle.
 26. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a transmitter for transmitting the flush signal to the flushing assembly and the flushing assembly comprises a receiver for receiving the flush signal transmitted by the sensor assembly.
 27. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a turret rotatably mounted in the housing, and wherein the transmitter and the detector are mounted in the turret.
 28. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 27, including a ring positioned in the housing assembly, and wherein the turret comprises a plurality of ribs; wherein the ring includes at least one depending finger that engages at least one or more of the plurality of ribs to maintain the position of the turret in each of a plurality of rotated positions.
 29. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 27, including at least one depending finger inside the handle, and wherein the turret comprises a plurality of ribs; wherein the at least one depending finger engages at least one or more of the plurality of ribs to maintain the position of the turret in each of a plurality of rotated positions. 